Self-lubricating fan



Oct. l5, 1929. c. E. JEFFr-:Rs

SELF LUBRICATING FAN 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 2l, 1927 u M w m m @Q e w 5 m a 4 M 4 H 9 4 J m 4 8 4 UXIIHHIIHHNIINII .W Q nw Q 6 1 7 lm l l l l l I l l W 4 7 a E v u@ n mw a Hummm /\H/Y/ i Oct 15, l929 c. E. JEFFERS SELF LBRICATING FAN Filed April 21. 1927- 2 Sheets-Sheer. 2

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Patented Oct. 15, 1929 NlTl) STATES ATNT GFFlC CLARENCE E. JEFFEES; yOF YRK, PENNSYLVANA, ASSIGNQR, BY IVIESNIE ASSIGN` MENTS, TG HOUDALLE-HERSHEY CORPRATIBN, A GRGRATION OE ICGAN SELFLUBRICATING FAN Application filed April 21,

\ to the novel fan structure involved in this vention,

Figures 2 and 3 are views in longitudinal section and end elevation respectively7 of the hub or bushing portion of the fan as shown in Figure l,

Figures 4 and 5 are views in end elevation and longitudinal section respectively of the oil collector element,

Figures G and 7 are views in end elevation and longitudinal section respectively of the oil collector cover plate,

Figures 8 and 9 are views in end elevation and longitudinal section respectively of the fan bushing thrust washer, and

Figures l0 and ll are views in end elevation and longitudinal section respectively of a plate which co-acts with and forms a part of the oil collector shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5.

The fan with which my invention is assolci'ated as shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a sheet metal stamping 5 having radial projections 1 formed-'thereon7 to which projections the several. fan blades are adapted to be attached. The fan proper is adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to 1927. Serial No. 185,415.

a radial flange formed on the rotatable hub 3. The entire assembly is adapted to rotate on a stationary arbor 2. As above indicated, the body of the fan'is formed of sheet metal by a suitable stamping process7 such body having a centrally arranged cupped portion from which the arms l extend radially for the reception of 'the fan blades. n

Secured to the radial flange 6 of the bush-y ing 8 is a cylindrical oiltight casing 4 which is somewhat longer than the bushing and which surrounds the shaft 2. Suitable packing is employed at the point where a shaft 2 passes through the casing 4. Suitable packing is also employed between the flange 6 of the hub and the co-acting flanges of the casing 4 and fan l respectively. The casing 4 is adapted to contain a lubricant, preferably an amount such as indicated by the dotted oil level line shown in Figure 1, and to this end the casing is provided with a filling plug 19 through which the lubricant may be introduced or withdrawn.

Secured to the end of shaft 2 and in abutting relation therewith and with the correrspending end of bushing 3 is a thrust washer 9. rlhis washer is provided with radially extending openings which expose portions of the bearing surface between the sleeve 3 and the non-rotatable shaf Outwardly of the th ust washer is mounted an oil collecting dish Yl() having forme'L thereon radial vanes 16 which are adapted to register with the several radial openings in the thrust Washer. '.lhe registration of the vanes with the openin the thrust washer is assured by means of the stamped out lugs l2 on the plate 10 engaging in the radial slots. Outwardly of the oil collecting plate l0 and in concentric relation therewith is a cover plate member ll. rhis member is in the form of a cup having a central aperture through which the securing bolt l5 passes to maintain the same together with the oil collecting plate and the thrust washer in concentric assembled relation. rl`he overturned edge of the cup member l1 is adapted to project rearwardly of the shaft l cover the circumference of the oil collect"A plate. The hub 3 is formed with a shoulder intermediate the flange G and the end ot the hub. ".lounted on this shoulder is a plate 13 which co-acts with the varies of the oil collector plate to form a plurality et closed radially extending passages. The plate 18 is maintained in assembled relation with the oil collector plate by means 01" the upstanding`` i'lang'jes lll which are adapted to be positioned within the radial openings Q0 of the collector plate. 'lhe 'iiange 5 ol hub member 3 is provided at a point adjacent the inner surtace ot the casing l, with an aperture 8 which .is adapted to pass lubricant from within the casing` i to the oil collectingl `mbly on the end of shalt 2.

will be understood that in operation the e casingl i will ne toon ot an armure-.r tilm on the inner surface of the cy"nder by virtue ol: centrifugal force. Portions ot' this annular film ot lubricant will be projected laterally through the openings 8 ano. into the oil lectorlwhere it will be conveyed radially inward by means et' the several vanes r. T

Due to the .tact that the vanes 1G register with the radial slots cic the thrust washer 9, it is apparent, that the lubricant thus collected i id carried inwardly will be ted to the beroving;l surface between the sleeve 8 and the s" ln order to facilitate the starting ot' the `flow et oil between the coeactinp; hearing surfaces., li have provided undercut recess l? within the hub 3 which is adapted to collect and retain the initial lubricant charge. llrom this recess the lubricant will gradually work along?, the entire length of the bearine surface until n the point 21 is reached, at which point a larg-ge part ot the lubricant will again be discharged through the openings in the sleeve baclr into the rising. ln order to insure lubrication oli the ,ir-.eeve beyond these discharge openings, l have provided a spiral groove on the inner surface of the sleeve beginningat 'he points where these openings are located., and extending to the end of the sleeve. rElie reason tor locating the openings at the point 2l is to prevent the discaarge ot the ent body et lubricant directly against the pacliin g through which the shatt 2 i asses.

iA om the foregoing description that my device embodies a means maintaining; a constant and substantially 'term liow ot lubricant in a continuous circuit trom the casing; inwardly to the bearing surface et the shaft and back to the casing. An important feature et my invention is that theparticular design employed permits of ie use oil? sheet metal stai'npings tor practically all olf the parts. lt is also noted that the elements added to the :tan structure proper for the purpose of lubricat i5-ogg,l the tan bearing' are Y permanently held stationary and therefore are not subject to wear.

l do not intend by the 'foregoing description to limit my invention to a 'lian construction, since it is apparent that the u.idcrlj,fing` lt should be apparent prin/ciales tliereoi may be applied to numerous otner rotate-.ble machine elements. ln so far t' the broader aspects of my invention are concerned chine clement secured to one tace said flange, a lubricant tight casing secured to the opposite face ot sait flange, said thrust washer having' radial slots ot sutiicient depth expose portions ot the bearing` surface between said sleeve and shaft, a disc secured to aid shaft outwardly ot and adjacent to said -fasl'icr and having radial vanes and aperure through said liange adjacent the inner nrtace oi said casing', whereby, during rotation ot said machine element, lubricant is discharge said casing through the apert re and onto said vanos, and by said vanes nec-ted inwardl to said bea-ring.

2. ln device ot the character described, the combination with a` non-rotatable spindle,

a sleeve journaled thereon, a lubricant containing casing secured tor rotation with said sleeve, means within said casing;l for receiving and conducting` lubricant tlieret'ron'i inwardly to the bea surfaces oi" said sleeve and spindle, said means comprising two spacedqdiscs having radially disposed vanes ntei'iding' therebetvvfeen, and beine; so located that said vanes terminate inwardly acent the atorenientioned bei ang,` surliaces and ratlording a. thrust bearing sr'ace for the adjacent end said sleeve, a lubricant conductingv means mounted on said end ot the spindle, said washer having a slot affording communication between said lubricant conducting means and the bearing' surfaces of said sleeve and spindle and also affording means or inaintainin;` said lubricant conducting?,- means in non-rotative relation with said spindle, a lubricant containing; causing` surrounding said spindle and sleeve and secure'd for rotation with the latter and adapted to discharge lubricant therefrom intoV said conducting means.

l. ln a device oi the character described, the combination with a non-rotatable spiniaving an end abutting said washer, a'

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die, of a sleeve journa-led thereon, a radial flange secured to said sleeve adjacent an end thereof, a casing structure secured to said flange and affording a closed chamber on either side thereof, one of said chambers adapted to contain a supply of lubricant and said fange having an aperture extending therethrough for placing said chambers in communication, means in said other chamber for receiving lubricant discharged through said aperture and conducting it inwardly to the bearing surfaces of said sleeve and spindle, said means con'iprising a washer secured to said spindle and abutting the adjacent of said sleeve, said washer having radial slots of a depth to expose said bearing surfaces, a disc interloclred with said washer and having radial. vanes formed on a face thereof, a second disc spaced from but interlocked with the first disc and coacting with the vanes thereof to form closed radial passages, and means for securing said discs to said spindle.

5. ln a self-lubricating fan structure of the type embodying a fixed spindle, a sleeve having a bea-ring thereon, and a two compartment casing surrounding said spindle and sleeve and secured for rotation with the latter and wherein one compartment is adapted to contain a supply of lubricant and discharge the same centrifugally into the other coniipartment, the combination therewith of means disposed in said second compartn'ient for receiving the` lubricant discharged thereinto and conducting the same inwardly to the bearing surfaces of said sleeve and spindle, and comprising a pair of spaced interlocked discs having radially disposed vanes extending therebetween and terminating outwarilly adjacent the point of discharge from said supply casing and inwardly adj scent the aformentioned bearing surfaces.

(l. ln a self-lubricating fan sgructure the type embodying a spindle, a sleeve having` a bearing thereon and two compartment casing surrounding said spindle and sleeve and secured for rotation with the latter and wherein one compartment is adapted to eentain a supply of lubricant and discharge the same centrifugally into the other compartment, the combination therewith of means disposed in said second compartmentfor receiving the lubricant discharged thereinto and conducting the same inwardly to the bearing surfaces of said sleeve and spindle and comprising a thrust washer abutting the adjacent ends of said sleeve and spindle secured to the latter and having radial slots of a. depth to expose said bearing surfaces, a disc interlocked with said washer and having radial vanes in radial alignment with said slots and a second disc spaced from and interloclred with the first mentioned disc an abutting the free edges of said vanes to form therewith closed radial passageways.

7. rEhe structure set forth in claim 6, in combination with a third disc concentric with the two discs aforesaid and having an annular horizontally disposed flange overlying the latter and means for securing the several said discs and washer in concentric relation to said spindle.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a non-rotatable shaft, a thrust washer secured to said shaft, an elongated sleeve having a bearing on said shaft and having an end abutting said washer, a radial flange on said sleeve, a rotatable machine element secured to one face of said flange, a lubricant tight casing secured to the opposite face of said flange, said thrust washer having' radial slots of sufficient depth to expose portions of the bearing surfaces between said sleeve and shaft, a sheet metal dislsecured to said shaft outwardly of and adjacent to said washer, said disk having radial venes struct: therefrom, said vanes terminating` inwardly adjacent said .was ier and an aperture through said flange adjacent the inner surface of said casing, whereby during rotation of said machine element lubricant is discharged from said casing tl'irough the aperture and onto said vanes and by said vanes directed inwardly to said bearing.

In a device of the character described, the combination with a non-rotatable spindle, of a sleeve journalled thereon, a radial flange secured to said sleeve adjacent an end thereof, a structure secured to said flange and affording a closed chamber on either side thereof, one of said chambers adapted to contain a supply of lubricant and said flange having an aperture extending therethrough for placing said chambers in communication, means in said other chamber for receiving lubricant discharged through said aperture and conducting it inwardly to the bearing surfaces of said sleeve and spindle, said means comprising a. washer secured to said spindle and abutting the adjacent end of said sleeve, said washer having radial slots of a depth to expose said bearing surfaces, a sheet metal dislr associated with said washer, said disk laving a projection struck therefrom and adapted for engagement with one of said radial slots of the washer and also having a plurality of radial vanes struck therefrom and adapted to be held in a predetermined position with respect to the slots of said washer by said projection, and means for securing' sait dislr and washer in assembled relation with said spindle.

l0. ln device of the character described, the combination with a .relatively fixed spindle and a fan assembly having rotatable bearing support thereon embodying two closed chambers and a passagewayfor placing them in communication, one of said chambers being adapted to serve as a lubricant reservoir and the other being adapted to receive lubricant from said reservoir through said passageway and means disposed in said other chamber for collecting the lubricant so received therein and conveying the same to the bearing surface of said spindle, said means comprising a disc having va-nes and a second disc cooperating with the first said disc and vanes to form pockets between the said vanes and means associated with said pockets for conveying the lub "icant collected therein to said bearing surface.

1l. ln a device of the character described, the combination with a relatively Xed spindle and a fan assembly having rotatable bearing` support thereon embodying two closed chambers and a passageway for placing then in communication, one of said chambers being adapted to receive lubricant from said reservoir through said passageway and means disposed in said other chamber for collecting the lubricant so received therein and conveying the same to the bearing surface of said spindle, a disc having vaines and a second disc arranged adjacent thereto and cooperating therewith to form a lateral wall for said varies, thus forming lubricant poclrets between the successive varies, means for conducting lubricant from said pockets to the bearing surface of said spindle and means for securing said discs in non-rotatable relation with said spindle.

12. In a fan of the type embracng a relatively fixed spindle and a fan assembly having` rotatable bearing support thereon and embodying two closed chambers and a passageway for placing them in communication and wherein one of said chambers is adapted to serve as a lubricant reservoir and the other is adapted to receive lubricant from such reservoir through said passageway, the combination therewith of means disposed in said other chamber for collecting` the lubricant so received therein and conveying the same to the bearing surtace of said spindle, said means comprising a disc having vanes and a second disc adjacent to and abutting said vanes and having` a circumferential flange surrounding the peripheral portions of said vanes whereby to ferm subs antially closed lubricant pockets between the vanes, such pockets terminating inwardly adjacent to and having communication with the said spindle bearing surface for supplying lubricant thereto.

13. ln a fan of the type embracing a relatively lixed spindle and a fan assembly having rotatable bearing support thereon and embodying two closed chambers and a passageway for placing them in communication and wherein one of said chambers is adapted to serve as a lubricant reservoir and the other is adapted to receive lubricant from such reservoir through said passageway, the combination therewith of means disposed in said other chamber for collecting the lubricant so received therein and conveying the same to the bearing surface of said spindle, said means comprising a disc having vanes, a second disc abutting the free edges of said vaines and a third disc having a circumferential flange surrounding the peripheral portions of said vanes whereby to form substantially closed lubricant pockets between the vanes, one of said discs being se formed as to provide openings between the same and said circumferential llange whereby lubricant may be introduced into said pockets from the said passage, said pockets terminating inwardly adjacent to and having communication with the said spindle bearing surface for supplying lubricant thereto.

ist. ln a fan of the type embracing` a relatively fixed spindle and a fan assembly having rotatable bearing` support thereon and embodying two closed chambers and a passageway for placing them in communication and wherein one of said chambers is adapted to serve a lubricant reservoir and the other is adapted to receive lubricant from such reservoir through said passageway, the combination therewith of means disposed in said other chamber for collecting the lubricant so received therein and conveying the same to the bearing surface of `said spindle, said means comprising a washer secured to said spindle and serving as an end thrust member for said fan assembly, said washer having radial slots which expose the bearing surface of said spindle, a disc secured to said spindle and having interlocking engagement with said washer for maintaining the disc and washer' in a predetermined relative position, said disc being formed with a plurality of substantially radially disposed vanes, a second disc secured to said spindle in abutting relation to the fre-e edges of said vanes whereby to form pockets between them and said discs being so arrar 'ed that said pockets communicate with the slots of sai d washer, whereby lubricant is fed to the bearing surface of said spindle.

15. ln a fan of the type embracing relatively lined spindle and a fan assembly having rotatable bearing support thereon and embodying two closed chambers and a passageway for placing them in communication and wherein one of said chambers is adapted to serve as a lubricant reservoir and the other is adapted to receive lubricant'from said reservoir through said passageway, the combination therewith of means disposed in said other chamber for collecting the lubricant so received therein and conveying 'the same to the bearing surface of said spindle,said means comprising washer secured to said spindle and serving as an end thrust member for said fan assembly, said washer having radial slots which expose the bearing surface of said spindle, a disc secured to said spindleA and having interlocking engagement With said Washer for maintaining the dise and Washer in a predetermined relative position, said dise being formed With a plurality of substantially radially disposed vanes, a second dise secured to said spindle in abutting relation to the free edges of said vanes whereby to forni pockets between them, and a third dise having a circumferential flange surrounding the peripheral extremities of said vanes and one of said discs being formed to provide openings between the saine and said flange Whereby lubricant may be introduced into said pockets, and said discs being so arranged that said pockets communicate With the slots of said Washer, whereby lubiicant is fed to the bearing surface of said spindle.

ln testimony whereof l ailx my signature.

CLARENCE n. Jenseits. 

